One player who has far outperformed his current salary is quarterback Brock Purdy. As the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy is locked into a four-year, $3.7 million rookie contract. This season, he'll earn just under $1 million—an embarrassingly low amount compared to the massive salaries of other quarterbacks, many of whom haven't matched Purdy's performance on the field.
The 49ers can't begin contract extension negotiations with Purdy until after this season. But when that time comes, he's expected to secure a deal that could make him one of the NFL's highest-paid players.
"Brock has obviously outplayed the Mr. Irrelevant contract," Williams told reporters on Tuesday. "I would be thrilled, absolutely thrilled, to not only see, but to watch his life change after something like that because he deserves it. If there's any great American story that you can look for in the NFL, it's this one right here. Nobody ever thought that he could do what he did."
Purdy's impending deal will undoubtedly limit the salary cap flexibility the 49ers have enjoyed in recent years. With a top-paid quarterback on the roster, the team will have less money to allocate to other positions, forcing them to get creative to remain competitive.
Williams even believes Purdy is better than recent first-round draft picks, and the quarterback's performance certainly backs that up. In 2023, Purdy set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards, surpassing legends like Joe Montana, Steve Young, and the previous record-holder, Jeff Garcia.
"I think his play speaks for itself," Williams continued. "So super, super proud of him. I love the kid to death. He deserves every dollar coming his way, and, yeah, I want to be a part to help him get to what exactly he deserves."
Rookie eager to learn from Williams
One of the players most excited about Williams' return to the building is rookie offensive lineman Dominick Puni, who is expected to be a Week 1 starter when the 49ers host the New York Jets on Monday, September 9.
"He a legend, man," Puni told reporters in the 49ers locker room on Tuesday. "He the GOAT. The whole camp, I've been waiting for him, just to see him, watch him practice, because anything you can take, any type of lessons or notes you can take from a guy like that, it's priceless.
"So I'm gonna do everything. I'm gonna be a sponge around him. Everything he say or everything he do, I'm gonna take it and just try and learn as much as I can."
When asked who had impressed him from afar, Williams immediately mentioned Puni, who quickly rose up the depth charts following several injuries along the offensive line.
"Obviously, Puni coming in and playing the way he played in those preseason games, looking at his poise, and just looking like he's been there before," Williams said. "I was looking at that guy, I'm like, 'Man, he looks like he can contribute day one.' And he's such a steal, such a good find for those guys."
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